Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has arrived in Lapland, Finland, where he will participate in the North-South Summit this weekend. In response to a question, he stressed that “we will continue to stand by Ukraine and support Ukraine unequivocally.”
Mitsotakis’ full statement is as follows:
First of all, it’s a real pleasure. This is a first for me to make a statement in the snow and in the darkness. But I’d like to thank Petteri for the invitation to attend what I think is going to be a very interesting discussion, two countries of the south discussing with Sweden and Finland the upcoming security challenges of the European Union. We know that we need to commit more resources to our collective defence. The question is, how are we going to achieve these goals at a time of increased geopolitical turbulence. So it’d be an opportunity for us to share with our Nordic friends the challenges that we faced in the Mediterranean, but also to learn from you the challenges that you’re faced with in this part of Europe. I’m looking forward to what I’m sure will be a very interesting discussion.
Question: Mr. Mitsotakis, what is your message to Russia and Vladimir Putin?
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: The message is very, very clear. We will continue to stand by Ukraine, and we will continue to support Ukraine unequivocally. It is up to Ukraine to determine the timing to enter any discussion with Russia, but it should do so from a position of strength and not a position of weakness.
Thank you very much.
